


x~\ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 

























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Entered according to Act of Congress 
the year 1906, by The Goff Company, in the 
Office of the Librarian of Congress 
at Washington. 


“LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE” 

AND OTHER STORIES 
IN VERSE 
FOR CHILDREN 


BY 

MARION P. HATCH, C. S. 

\s 


FIRST EDITION 


Buffalo, N. Y. 

THE GOFF COMPANY 
1906 


LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two CoDies Received 

JUL 5 1906 

-OoDyrighl Entry 

CXASS CL XXC. NO. 

vr /i+7$?<+ 

* COPY^B. ' 


God is good, is all, is near, 

My faintest call will always hear. 
I need not, will not, cannot fear, 
When this, the truth, I know. 


PREFACE 


To mother and to child 
There comes, at close of day, 

That sweet communion which doth prove 
The ever present guardianship of God. 

This hour, between the light of day 
And darkness of the night, 

This hour which opens so-called dreamland’s door, 
Gives time and opportunity 
Wherein much may be said 
Of help and hope, of truth and right. 

Therefore the author trusts this little book 
Will add somewhat unto each mother’s store 
Of childhood’s sweet, true lore. 



CONTENTS 


God is Good - -- -- -- i 

Preface - -- -- -- - 3 

Little Miss Sunshine ------ 7 

My Fortress - -- -- -- 13 

The Baby’s Bible - - - - - - - 15 

The Way that Jesus Built - 21 

The Sun - -- -- - - 23 

Dorothy - -- -- -- - 27 

Error - -- - 29 

Asleep - -- -- -- - 31 

Awake 33 

The Snow Flakes - 39 

The Truth Verse - 43 

The Good Shepherd 45 

The Joy Song 47 

Marguerite 51 

The Story of the Prophets ----- 57 
Red, White and Blue ----- 67 

Goliath - 73 

Companions - -- -- -- 83 

Good Thoughts - - - - - - - 87 


5 



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LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 


Little Miss Sunshine called one day ; 

I asked her if she wouldn’t stay? 

She said that was for me to say, 

She would if she could have her way. 

Her way was to be sweet and bright, 

To love good things with all her might ; 
She could not play with Miss Feamight, 
’Till she became like Miss Allright. 

So then I said : You’re just like me, 

I mean, like you I want to be ; 

So if you’ll stay you’re always free 
To do sweet things for me to see. 


7 




LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 


And now I feel that I must say — 

That since Miss Sunshine came to stay, 
There hasn’t been a single day 
But I’ve been better every way. 

Little Miss Sunshine, did you say? 

How long do I expect she’ll stay? 

I hope she’ll never go away, 

I could not spare her for a day ! 

I have her locked up in my heart, 

But still the bars are far apart 
And she can look out all the while 
To see I have a pleasant smile. 


9 



LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 


She’d go away, 0 very quick, 

If clouds upon my face were thick ; 

It’s funny, but no lock nor key 
Could keep her if I’d angry be. 

How can you find her, did you say? 

0 I’m so glad to tell the way ! 

The first thing is to cheerful be, 

And joy, and love, to have with thee ; 
These draw all good things into line 
’Till first you know — its Miss Sunshine ! 


Ye are the light of the world. 

( Matthew 5 : 14) 




MY FORTRESS 


My Fortress fills all space, around, above, 

Is God, and God is Life and Truth and Love. 

My Fortress will let nothing pass to me 
That’s wrong in word or deed, or that I shouldn’t 
see. 

My Fortress gives me every thought that’s good, 

And I can have no other even if I would. 


As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the 
Lord is round about his people. ( Psalm 125 : 2 ) 





4 



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THE BABY’S BIBLE 


I know a little, little girl, who when she went to bed, 

Took folded in her chubby arms a Bible to be read — 

She could not read, nor hardly talk, she was so very 
young, 

But always went to sleep believing she had read 
and sung. 

She seemed to know the book she loved had messa- 
ges from heaven, 

Sweet words of love to Jesus sent, and by him to 
her given, 

For she was always giving Good, and always living 
Love, 

Her heart just full of joyfulness that cometh from 
above. 


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THE BABY'S BIBLE 


Her little feet were swift to run on errands for 
mamma; 

Her little hands would always serve and cherish her 
papa. 

One summer day her mother took her calling on a 
friend, 

With wonderment she looked around, but soon 
there came an end, 

For she had seen within the room a Bible like her 
own, 

So down she slid from mother’s lap and got it all 
alone; 

And all the time that she was there she held it to 
her heart 

As though it were of her sweet life the very dearest 
part. 


17 


THE BABY’S BIBLE 


How came this angel little one to know and love 
the book? 

The word of God to man, by which he can to heaven 
look? 

Were book and child companions, time before in 
heavenly day? 

And did she see in it a saviour from earth’s error 
way? 

Now all who know God’s little ones, feel that they 
hold the key 

To what we need to enter in to kingdom heavenly, 

And that the key is, how to change from being 
worldly wise, 

To those, for sake of heaven, glad to look with child- 
like eyes. 


Verily I say unto you , Whosoever shall not receive the 
kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter 
therein . ( Luke 18: 17) 


19 









THE WAY THAT JESUS BUILT 


Would you like today, 

To visit house that Jesus built? 

If you would, we will go, 

Right away ! 

See these great walls ! 

These window lights ! 

This dome and tower ! 

They’re not of glass and stone, — 
But the thoughts beautiful, 

With power, 

Of our dear Jesus Christ. 

Our Father gave the thoughts, 
And Jesus built the house ; 

His helpers, Love and Joy, 

And Golden Rule. 

He built like unto mansions 
In his Father’s house in heaven. 


In my Father's house are many mansions : if it were 
not so, / would have told you . 1 go to prepare a place 

for you. ( John 14: 2) 



THE SUN 


We are lovers of the sun, 

In its light and heat we run, 

In and out, and round about, 

We the sun can’t do without. 

When the earth turns halfway round, 
Then the sun can not be found, 

Still, we know it’s in its place 
And in time will show its face. 

Then the darkness goes away, — 

It was never here to stay, 

Never can come in our heart 
If we lock up every part. 


23 



THE SUN 


Darkness is but “make believe”- 
Just a shadow, to deceive ; 

We will always see the sun 
When, in Truth, we have begun. 

Now, the sun seems a big ball, 
But, in Mind, it serveth all, — 
Showing everything above 
Is of Life, and Truth, and Love. 


For the Lord Qod is a sun and shield : the Lord will give 
grace and glory : no good thing will he withhold from 
them that walk uprightly. ( Psalm 84 : 11 ) 


25 



DOROTHY 

(THE GIFT OF GOD) 


0, how I hope that you are she, — 
My little friend, My Dorothy, — 
“The Gift of God.” 

The Gift of God comes every day, 
And yet it always comes to stay ; 
And as you grow and grow, 

And as you know and know, 
From your dear life will ever flow 
From Love above, to all below. 

And so I know that you can be 
My little friend, my Dorothy — 
“The Gift of God.” 


Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. 

( James 1: 17) 


27 









ERROR 


Who is knocking at the door? 

I will take a look ; — 

Same old error as before, 

Know it like a book, 

No ! you can’t come in ! 

Error’s like a thistle tree, — 
Looks so innocent ! 

Don’t you touch it, or you’ll see 
Just how prickly it can be, 

For it’s full of sin. 


Get thee hence , Satan : for it is written : Thou shalt 
worship the Lord thy God y and him only shalt thou 

( Matthew 4 : 10) 


serve . 








ASLEEP 


Good night, my boy, 

The arms of Love surround : 

Thou art on holy ground. 

Thine eyelids gently pressed by night, 

Will open brightly with the light. 

But hark ! 

What is that sweet, sweet sound? 

Ah yes ! ’Tis heaven we have f ound, 

The children’s nightly camping ground ; 

And there they softly, and more softly say : — 
All right, good night ; all right, good night. 


For so he giveth his beloved sleep. 

( Psalm 127: 2 ) 


3i 





AWAKE 


0 mother ! come to me and hear 
What was last night so very queer ! 

You know the lion in my book? 

And just how scared he makes me look? 
Well mother dear, I saw him, sure ! 

Was I afraid? Why mother ! no ! 

1 patted him ! He nosed me, — so, — 
Soft as could be, and carefully 

As though he’d like to have me see 
How real, real good he’d be to me. 

And a dear man who stood close by, 

Said I could lead him if I would, 

That lions there were always good — 
And all the others in my book — 

But then, when I began to look, 

I just woke up ! 

Do you suppose I’ll go again? 

And when? 0 mother tell me, when? 


33 



AWAKE 


My darling boy ! My son ! 

Last night you found the land of Love, 
The holy ground of which Isaiah told, 
Because you looked with eyes of faith 
That doubted not. 

To show us that dear Love is everywhere, 
Isaiah wrote like this : 

“The wolf and the lamb, 

And the leopard and the kid, 

The calf and the lion, 

Shall live side by side, 

And a little child shall lead them.” 

My mother sweetheart ! 

That was what I saw last night ! 

Yes, I am sure ! 

And it was like the brightest day 
That ever was ! 


35 




AWAKE 


Do you suppose it was Isaiah 
Who was so good to me? 

I tell you what, his face just shone ! 
And now I think he said this too : — 
That no one there was ever hurt, 
Nor sick, for God was everywhere. 


When 1 awake , / am still with thee, 

( Psalm 139:18) 


37 



THE SNOW FLAKES 


The snow flakes come right from the cloud, 
They have no voice that speaks aloud, 

But when you see them on their way, 

Why then they have a lot to say,— 

If you will listen carefully, — 

About the clouds that let them go 
Down to the earth so far below ; 

About the boys and girls that play 
With snow balls, sleds, and every way. 

They’re jolly glad in coming down, 

When the north wind doth loose its gown 
And scampers forth with a great bound 
To join with them its wintry sound 
For then they race and chase around, 

As if they wouldn’t touch the ground. 

But snow flakes never talk aloud, 

Nor ever do they push or crowd ; 

There’s always room for every one 
And every one is full of fun. 


39 



THE SNOW FLAKES 


But the best snow is sugar snow, 

For sugar snow says sap will flow, 
And so it limits on every tree, — 

On maple trees so they will be 
All ready for the sugar-man, 

Who boils the sap in his big pan, 
And eats the sugar, all he can, 

0 my ! I’d like to be the sugar-man ! 


Hast thou entered into the treasures of 


the snow? 


( Job 38:22) 


4i 



THE TRUTH VERSE 


There is no fear 
For God is here, 

His loving care 
Is everywhere, 

And his protecting arm 
Will always shield from harm, 
His children. 


There is no fear in 


love ; but perfect 


love casteth out 


fear . 


{I John 4: 18) 


43 




THE GOOD SHEPHERD 

(A CHILD’S MEDITATION) 

When Good Shepherd’s voice I hear 
Then there is no room for fear, 

And he ever calleth clear, — 

“I am near, I am near, 

Take my hand.” 

My Good Shepherd goes before 
Leading me right through his door, 
Into land of thinking good, 

Where, ’tis ever understood, 

Error cannot come. 

In this land I always see 
Only Truth, and can be, — 

As was he who made me free, 

Gave up life of flesh for me, — 

For ever in reality. 


The Lord Is my shepherd; I shall not want . He maketh 
me to lie down in green pastures : he leadeth me beside 
the still waters . ( Psalm 23: 1, 2) 


45 



THE JOY SONG 


Joy is the song of leaf to leaf, 
Upon the trees aloft 
When winds are soft, — 

The sheltering leaves. 

When wind is high 

They clap their hands and cry : 

’Tis God we hear! 

Hedraweth near! 

Joy unto water doth belong ; 

In brook it flows along 
As wood and meadow song, 

Its loving tone always well known 
To willow bush, 

To overhanging tree, 

To thirsty grass and lily ; 

It sings to all beside the stream : 

I will redeem ! I will redeem ! 


47 





THE JOY SONG 


When water, trickling to the ground 
From sloping roof, is stopped by frost, 

It feels no fear of being lost, 

Well knowing nature’s loyalty, 

So in the morning asks the sun 
To help it run as it begun, 

And every drop with thanks doth glow, 

In colors of its friend’s rainbow. 

The rain filled clouds, with their great wings, 
Open their doors when water sings, 

And then the new made drops all run 
To reach the earth before the sun — 

And overflow the thirsty ground. 

Then water, with its joyful strain, 

Doth sing unto the famished grain, 

Which it can fresh and fill. 


Behold , my servants shall sing for joy of heart. 

( Isaiah 65:14) 


49 












MARGUERITE 


0 have you seen my little sister Marguerite 
Out for a walk, 

Out for a talk? 

She is the dearest little thing — 

The sweetest flower of any spring — 

0 have you seen my sister Marguerite? 

One day we crawled right through a fence, 

Out for a walk, 

Out for a talk. 

We never saw a baby cow, we two, 

Until we heard her moo, and moo, and moo ! 

0 then you should have seen my sister, Marguerite ! 












MARGUERITE 


We had a little parasol all lined with brightest red, 

And when she saw it baby cow just shook her funny 
head, 

And skipped and hopped as though she thought it 
lots of fun, 

But I cried: “Rita!” — that’s her “homey” name — 
we better run ! 

But she said no! 0 no! I want to pat it on its 
head! 

And 0 ! maybe it would be glad if it were fed ! 

So when the baby cow again came near she said: 

How would you like to have some real nice milk and 
bread? 


53 



MARGUERITE 


And then the baby cow stuck out its tongue and 
licked her hand, 

While Rita with our handkerchiefs made such a 
pretty band 

And tied it round the bossie’s neck, though she 
would hardly wait, 

Till Rita said, if she were good, she’d find her a 
playmate. 

But it was very, very sweet to see dear little Mar- 
guerite, 

So brave and strong and confident, all fear and fuss 
to meet. 

She would not let me run away 

But said : Of course dear one we’ll stay ! 

For Love has charge of every day, 

And Love is always the right way. 


55 




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THE STORY OF THE PROPHETS 


And so my little boy wants story 
Of the prophets told again? 

“And all about the fountain, too !” 

So it shall be if he will help. 

Now what does prophet mean in Hebrew tongue? 
That’s good ! You’re almost right ! 

It is not “fountain” but it is 
“To bubble forth like a fountain.” 

Now do you see? 

A prophet is the one who talks for another, 

One who pours forth just like 
An ever flowing f ountain. 

0 mother, yes! 

But do you mean just as our f ountain 
Pours forth water from the lake up in the hills? 

Why yes, my son, they are alike, 

The f ountain pours forth all the time 
And so, too, did those faithful prophets 
Preach, and teach, and give. 


57 



THE STORY OF THE PROPHETS 


How many prophets were there did you ask? 

0, a very great number, but only sixteen 
Have written in the Bible what God said to them. 

But let me tell you what you said one time 
When we were at the fountain looking at the birds : 
Suddenly you caught my hand and whispered : 

“Why mother, this is the way ! 

God made the birds, and then 

He said we were to make a drinking place for them. 

And, mother, the birds heard I’m sure ! 

And that is why they lift their pretty heads, each 
time they drink, 

And thank him for the water and the fountain.” 

My son ! Your mother carries always 
In her heart, those sweet, sweet words. 

Therein God talked to thee and thou didst hear. 


59 



THE STORY OF THE PROPHETS 


Now there were schools and colleges of prophets* 
And they were taught the law of Moses, 

Also music and sacred poetry, 

For prophets were the nation’s poets, 

Preachers, and care-takers. 

They were between God and his people, 

Giving what God gave to them. 

You see God knew the people’s need. 

He knew their hunger and their thirst for Love, 
And so he sent the prophets forth. 

My mother dear ! 

I t hink that God is very good ! 

I want to think so all the time ! 

And I just want to thank Him all the time ! 

And so you may, dear one, 

And he will hear your every word. 


61 





THE STORY OF THE PROPHETS 


Now God told the prophet Isaiah 
A great deal about Christ Jesus, 

And of heaven 
And when Isaiah wrote 
He said of our dear Master 
Quite like this: — 

That righteousness, which means 
To be right in every way, 

And good, and true, 

Would ever be around him, 

And around his people, 

Like a girdle, — 

As a great protecting shield. 

Isaiah also said of Jesus : 

“For unto us a child is bom, 

Unto us a son is given ” : meaning 
That he was a pattern for all, 

Showing just what each one was to do. 


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THE STORY OF THE PROPHETS 


0 my mother ! 

Does Isaiah mean that every one 
Is to be like the Christ Child? 

But you and father are grown up, 

1 don’t see how you can. 

But God will show you I am sure ! 

And you say I can help you. 

However can I help you big, big folks? 

My son, your mother sees 
That God is teaching her through you, 
How she “a little child” can be 
By looking unto him for everything, 
Just as you looked, 

When but a baby boy, 

To her for all you had. 


“And a little child shall lead them.” 

( Isaiah 11:6) 


65 



RED, WHITE AND BLUE 


Two little girls in red 
Each by the other led, 

Come hand in hand. 

Two little girls in white 
Faces all alight, 

Come arm in arm. 

Two little girls in blue 
Each saying “I love you” 
Come arms around. 

Then red and white and blue 
Make circle whole and true, 
And sing : 


67 



RED, WHITE AND BLUE 


Our country ’tis of thee, 
Sweet land of liberty, 

Of thee we sing. 

May all thy people see, 
How good it is to be 
Loyal to God. 

And may they fully know 
The heaven here below, 
For those who trust. 

Our country ’tis for thee, 
Sweet land of liberty, 
Thus do we pray : 


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RED, WHITE AND BLUE 


0 God of Life and Love ! 

Our Father, here, above, 

Guide thou our land, — 

So all may fully see — 

Now, they may perfect be, 

For ever more, as Thee ! 

— Amen. 


Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is 
stayed on thee : because he trusteth in thee . 

( Isaiah 2b: 3) 














































GOLIATH 


Sometimes old error seems as big 
As did Goliath in strange rig 
Of helmet and of coat of mail, 

With spear as big as a fence rail, 

When, forty days there came his shout, 

As he paraded in and out : 

“Send forth a man for me to fight, 

And I will show you my great nlight. ,, 

No wonder those who didn’t know 
Goliath was an empty show, 

Were scared, and thought they wouldn’t go 
And fight the giant, strutting so. 

They said he was full ten feet high, 

And very strong and very sly, 

And that he wouldn’t ever die ; 

“Look out for him ! Omy! Omy!” 


73 





GOLIATH 


(And I just wonder if today 
We ever do the selfsame way, 

Forget that God is all-in-all, 

And find old error very tall !) 

Now the two armies, face to face, 

Were on two mountains, and the place 
To meet, was valley in between, 

Where all they did could be well seen. 

And David came the very day 
The battle was put in array. 

He knew of victory and might, 

The might that makes of darkness, light. 

He knew the stars were in God’s hand, 

He knew that nothing wrong could stand. 
In watching sheep from night to night 
He heard the heavenly song of right. 


75 


t 



GOLIATH 


Then David said : “Who is this one 
That hath all Israel undone? 

I fear him not, him will I fight 
If our good king gives me the right.” 

Now while he spake unto the men 
Behold ! Goliath came again, 

And shouted forth his taunt and gibe, — 
And men of Israel ran to hide. 

His words were taken to the king, 

Who said: “The youth unto me bring !” 
But when the king saw but a boy 
He said : “That man would you destroy ! y 

Then David told of savage bear, 

That took a lamb, within his care, 

Of lion too ; — how both he slew, 

And so the king his doubts withdrew. 


77 




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GOLIATH 


Then, that the king would have no fear 
He said to him: “Our Lord is here ! 

And He doth save, but not with spear, 

It is our faith that brings him near.” 

So David, with his staff and sling, 

Went forth to meet that error thing. 

He knew there was no place for sin, 

And that the Truth would surely win. 

Then choosing stones from out the brook 
With sling in hand, and shepherd’s crook, 
He ran near to and cast a stone 
And slew Goliath all alone. 

Then the Philistine army fled, 

For their great champion was dead ; 

They scattered like the fog and dew, 
When rising sun makes all things new. 


79 



GOLIATH 


Yet David never was alone, 

For everywhere is God’s dear throne. 
Thou too, with Truth, canst error slay : 
With sling and stone drive sin away. 


For yet a little while , and the wicked shall not be : yea 
thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be . 

( Psalm 37: 10) 


81 








COMPANIONS 


I am a little girl, not very old, 

I have three lovely little friends next door* 

One day at play when I began to scold 
They said I must not do it any more, 

That it was error and would make me sick. 

I only knew them just a little bit, 

And so I said I wouldn’t play again ! 

But when, ten times, I saw them playing “it” 
(Their names were Mary, Josephine and Ben) 
And other games I loved, I made up quick. 

One day their mother came into my house — 
And everything was still as a wee mouse, 

For there I was just flat upon my bed 
“A real sick girl” was what the doctor said — 


83 



COMPANIONS 


She took my hand, and looking, 0 so sure 
Said : the Christ Truth is certainly your cure ; 

I’ll pray and so will Josephine and Ben, 

And know the truth, and you’ll be well again. 

And then my heart began to smile and smile, 

For I remembered how, for quite a while 
Dear Ben had told me I need not be sick ; 

That God was Good, and Truth would heal me quick. 

And so it was not very many days 
Before I joined them in their easy plays, 

And being with them made me well so fast 
That I just want to have it always last. 


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You will always find 
That good thoughts, and kind, 
Are right from God to you ; 
And each day you use more 
Than the day before, 

The more you’ll have in store. 


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